You have been seeing one of your rabbits behaving in odd ways recently. You also noticed some strange things in its body, which your rabbit never exhibited before. This can be worrying and they could be major signs your rabbit is dying.
Letting go of your favorite pet isn’t anything easy. It’s even more heartbreaking when you need to see it take its last breath. That’s something every pet owner dreads.
However, not every worrying sign of death can lead to death if you pay attention and take certain steps promptly. If you’re wondering about it, here are some signs of a dying rabbit, along with the things you can do.
Signs and Symptoms of Rabbits Dying
Rabbits may demonstrate many signs that they may be dying including several major ones which will be covered in this article. But keep in mind that primary care and medications in some of these cases may help to save rabbits from anything fatal.
Rabbits may also not show any of these and face sudden death. However, here are the signs that a rabbit may show about which you should be alert.
1. Your Rabbit Loses Appetite and Thirst
Loss of appetite in rabbits can mean two things – either your rabbit is quite sick, or it’s quite close to its last days. No matter what you give them, even if you give it its favorite food or treat, your pet won’t even sniff it and will probably stop eating altogether.
It’ll also stop drinking any water at all. It’ll not show signs of thirst and may even turn around when it sees water. This can cause dehydration which can prove fatal very quickly.
Although these may be signs of rabbits dying or being seriously ill, your vet can treat them, and they may live. If you see it hasn’t eaten or drunk anything in hours, take it for immediate treatment.
2. Your Rabbit Shows Unpredictability in Movements
When rabbits get closer to death, they start losing their sense of movement and direction, just like humans do. Either they won’t move at all or will move sporadically and end up getting severely hurt.
Neurological conditions can cause these too, which can be identified and treated in a young bunny. And if your rabbit’s old, then it may not move at all. Take it to a peaceful corner of the house with no disturbances to see if it gets up ad becomes playful. If not, then it’s nearing the end.
3. It’s Losing Strength
You may notice your rabbit not walking properly, stumbling constantly, or losing balance. This can be due to the loss of strength in its limbs. It can’t sit straight in a position unless you give it some support.
Loss of strength can either be due to weak motor functions or the muscles losing strength and structure. See if your rabbit is getting enough exercise for its muscles, or you can take it to the vet to find out the underlying reasons, possibly a neurological condition.
Also, if your rabbit is quite old, then these signs can mean that it’s towards the end of its life.
4. Your Bunny Has Paralyzed Limbs
When rabbits become quite old, their hind legs start getting paralyzed, and the rabbits can’t move much. They may also become paralyzed suddenly and will be unable to move at all. This can mean that they’re heading towards expiry.
However, if the rabbits are young and still getting paralyzed, it can be due to a head injury or a neurological condition. Take them to the doctor as soon as possible for early treatment and potential recovery. Otherwise, you may need to take other steps.
5. The Rabbit Has Seizures
Old rabbits tend to start having seizures, showing that they’re close to the end of their lives. You may take your rabbit to the doctor for treatments that can help the seizures or delay the death, but there’s usually no other way to save it.
However, if your rabbit is still young but has started having seizures, it can point to many reasons like head injury, a bacterial infection, a worm, blood clots, poisoning, or genetic conditions. A visit to the doctor can help you determine the reason so that you can treat it properly.
6. It Has Myiasis
Myiasis is a skin condition where the skin of the rabbits gets maggot-infested. Flies lay eggs on the fur, and when the eggs hatch, they produce maggots. These maggots then eat their way through the skin.
Picking off these maggots won’t be enough. Who knows, maybe these have already found their way inside the body of the rabbits! If this happens, rabbits may die within 24 hours! When you see this happening to your rabbit, immediately take it to the vet for fast treatment.
There are two precautions you can take to ensure this doesn’t happen. Always bathe or clean your rabbit so that feces and urine don’t get stuck in its fur. Keep the skin dry, as damp fur attracts flies to lay eggs. Following these will keep your rabbit maggot-free.
7. It’s Showing Unusual Vital Signs
Be it rabbits or other pets, you should take them to check their optimum vitals. Here are the vitals that a healthy bunny should show:
Heart rate: 180-250 beats per minute.
Healthy rabbit temperature: 38 degrees C- 40 degrees C, or 100.4 degrees F- 104 degrees F.
Breathing rate: 30-60 breathes per minute.
If any of these vital signs alter significantly, such as shortness of breath, cold body, or decreased or increased heart rate, then you must take your rabbit to the vet immediately.
Also, check for the capillaries. Healthy capillaries should restore their color within 2 seconds of pressing them. This is also known as ‘capillary refill time,’ or CRT, one of the vital signs to check in your rabbit. You can check it by pressing the gums. Any other color like yellow, blue, or white may be an indication of a dying rabbit.
8. It Has Breathing Difficulty
Breathing difficulties in rabbits are very noticeable. Some breathing issues to look for are gasping, wheezing, breathing with the mouth open, shortness of breath, and flared nostrils.
Some of the indications such as runny nose and coughing can just be due to a cold. Rabbits also gasp and wheeze when they’re scared, stressed, or can sense danger. They may also do it due to other respiratory issues.
However, as soon as you notice these problems, take your pet immediately to the doctor. Timely treatment of the underlying conditions can save your rabbit from something fatal.
9. Your Bunny Has Abnormal Feces
Any owner who has had a bunny for a long time will know how their rabbits poop. Check your rabbit’s feces.
For instance, smaller poop can mean that it’s in pain or distress. If the poop is clumpy, your rabbit is digesting food slower than usual. If you have a baby rabbit with diarrhea, it means it didn’t get enough of its mother’s milk, for which it’s feeble. If it happens in adult rabbits, it indicates food poisoning.
In any of these cases above, take your pet for an immediate consultation. Otherwise, your rabbit can face a life-threatening situation, especially if it gets diarrhea.
10. It Has Blood in its Urine
One sure sign a rabbit is dying is the presence of blood in its urine. Spots of blood in the urine of rabbits aren’t a common thing at all. This could mean your rabbit is suffering from an ailment that has gone too far to treat anymore. As a result, your rabbit will pass away soon.
11. The Rabbit is Showing Abnormal Behavior
You may have noticed that your rabbit is displaying some abnormal behavior. It’s not responding when you’re calling its name. It’s also shivering or giving off involuntary spasms sometimes.
Although these are symptoms of a dying rabbit when it’s old, you should still take it for a consultation. Your rabbit may be sick, tensed, or suffering from something psychological. The doctor can help you give a cure if possible.
12. It’s Making Unusual Noises
Listen to your rabbit carefully. Does it always make weird noises? Or has it started making unusual noises only recently?
If your rabbit is grinding its teeth constantly, that means it’s uncomfortable. Rabbits scream uncontrollably when they’re in pain or are scared of something. When rabbits become old and are near the end, they start growling or squeaking.
In any of these cases, try to understand the reason behind these noises. If you can’t do anything at home to help it, take it in for treatment. It may be sick, or may also be a sign that your rabbit is dying.
What to Do Next?
Not every worrying sign means your rabbit is dying. You can treat some of these issues and revert the symptoms. If that’s not possible, there are other things you can do. Let’s look at them.
1. Take Them to the Vet
No matter how old your furry friend is, take it to the vet immediately if you see any of the symptoms discussed in this article.
In cases like breathing issues, loss of appetite, unbalanced vital signs, etc., prompt consultation with the doctor can help to treat your bunny and may recover from these symptoms.
The doctor will monitor the vitals like its pulse and breathing, and treat them with water, food through IV, medicines, and anything else that can alleviate the symptoms of your rabbit. If nothing else works, you may need to opt for euthanasia.
2. Euthanize Them
If every treatment fails and there’s nothing you can do, the most humane thing to do to your beloved rabbit is to euthanize it.
Euthanasia is the intentional termination of a person or an animal’s life in the most humane way possible when they are suffering from a painful and incurable disease.
The doctor may recommend euthanasia when there’s no way to save your rabbit. They may recommend the type of euthanasia that would be most humane based on your rabbit’s condition. It can be very painful for you as the bunny’s owner but remember that you are alleviating their pain by doing this.
3. Make Your Dying Rabbit Comfortable
It can be hard to see your rabbit dying, and you may need time to come to terms with it. But you can do a few things to make your dying rabbit comfortable as much as possible in its final days.
Ensure that it has enough access to food and water. Feed it water with a syringe if needed. If the rabbit isn’t eating properly or nothing at all, then try giving it its favorite treats.
Keep your bunny pet indoors and give it comfortable bedding. Keep it warm and comfortable with a blanket. If your rabbit likes your touch, give it plenty of pets and cuddles, and gently stroke its head and back. If it doesn’t like physical contact, just be present with it.
Conclusion
Rabbits are very sensitive animals. They can get hurt or develop fatal symptoms quite easily. Seeing pet rabbits suffer isn’t easy, let alone seeing them take their last breath.
But you may delay the time with treatment and care or euthanize them if they’re in pain. Furthermore, you can do many things to make a rabbit’s dying days as pleasant and comfortable as possible.
We hope you found this article helpful and has led you to better understand the signs your rabbit is dying and the steps you can take when you notice such signs.